Three AUSD High School Students Win Girls, Inc. Award

Announcement submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

AUSD’s students shine in myriad ways – as scholars, athletes, and performers; as leaders, seekers, and artists; and as thoughtful, contributing members of their school sites, neighborhoods, and broader communities. Many of them do this while facing almost unfathomable challenges in their young lives.

Take, for instance, the three AUSD high school students who recently won Women Who Dare Awards from Girls Incorporated of the Island City, a non-profit organization that for more than five decades has helped local girls become “strong, smart, and bold.”

The annual award, now in its 15th year, recognizes women and young women in Alameda who have made a significant difference in our community. It is the only public event to recognize women leaders in Alameda. This year the theme was “Risk, Resiliency, and Reward.” Three of the six winners are AUSD students, and all have grown beyond their own troubles to help others.

“We had a tremendous number of nominations for this year’s Women Who Dare Award, and these students truly embodied our theme of Risk, Resiliency, and Reward,” says Christine Chilcott, Interim Executive Director of Girls, Inc. “We are so proud to honor these teens who, through managing difficult times and showing perseverance, are on their path the becoming Strong, Smart, and Bold young women.”

The three student winners are:

Edylwise Romero, a senior at Alameda Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), AUSD’s early college high school. Edylwise, whose family has suffered multiple traumas since immigrating here from the Philippines, has become an Honor Roll student and an active member of the school’s leadership team. She also founded the community service club “ASTI for Humanity” to help people in need, including by organizing backpack drives for low-income families at the beginning of the school year and holding a fundraiser to support Habitat for Humanity after Typhoon Haiyan. “Edylwise has lived through more than many people twice her age have endured,” her nominator wrote, “and has the maturity to show for that experience… She has chosen the uplifting path of service to others as a form of healing.”

Gabriella Gustafsson, a freshman at Encinal High School (EHS). Bullied as a young girl, Gabriella suffered from low self-esteem and low grades. But then she made a concerted effort to become more confident and now plays varsity soccer for EHS, runs on the cross country team, and is a member of the school’s DECA and Debate Clubs. She also actively pursues her interest in science through Girls Inc.’s Eureka! Teen Achievement Program. Last year, Gabriella won a Hope of America Award, which is given to students who demonstrate outstanding capacity for leadership, ethical and moral character, and academic competency. “There are girls who were born to change the world, born to be leaders, and inspire girls to discover their own power and potential,” her nominator wrote. “When you meet someone like this you know that they will lead their generation to greatness.”

Cecilia Nava, a senior at Alameda High School (AHS). Faced with numerous challenges as a young girl, Cecilia has shown enormous strength by committing herself to school and basketball – including serving as a volunteer basketball coach in San Francisco in the summers. She has also learned to actively reach out for support from friends, teachers, coaches, and other mentors to find ways to persevere and succeed. “Despite facing almost every challenge a teenage girl could, Cecilia has shown incredible resiliency and continues to push towards her dreams,” her nominator wrote, one of which is to join the Coast Guard once she graduates.

“I laud these young women for finding the strength to overcome personal obstacles, fulfill their potential, and become models and mentors for others,” says Superintendent Sean McPhetridge, Ed.D. “I congratulate them on their award and wish them the very best in their continued journeys. And I thank Girls, Inc. for being such a faithful and inspiring partner in our community. This is exactly the kind of support our young people need to succeed.”

Photo via Shutterstock